Apparatus for treating fine filamentous thread in package form



Aug. 13, 1935. g HUT-nNGER 2,011,485

APPARATUS FOR TREATING FINE FILAMENTOUS THREAD IN PACKAGE FORM Original Filed April 9, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet l 1 w 2 67mm [5 ,4. flurrm/azw ATTORNEYS 1935- c. A. HUTTINGER 2,011,485

APPARATUS FOR TREATING FINE FILAMENTOUS THREAD IN PACKAGE FORM Original Filed April 9, 1950 '3 Sheets-Sheet 2 flvwswroa- 0mm :5 A. Harv/v60? 1935- c. A. HUIV'T'INGER 2,011,485

APPARATUS FOR TREATING FINE FILAMENTOUS THREAD IN PACKAGE FORM Original Filed April 9, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ens 020,01

Patented Aug; 13, I935 APPARATUS FOR TREATING FINE FILAMEN- TOUS THREAD IN PACKAGE FORM Charles A. Huttinger, Lakewood, Ohio, assignor to I Acme Rayon Corporation,.Cleveland, Ohio, at

corporation of Ohio Original application April a lcsaserial no. 442,874. Dividedand this application January 10, 1933, Serial No. 651,035. In France May 3,

1930. v14 Claiins.

. This application is a division of application Serial No. 442,874, filed by'me April 9, 1930, which in turn is a continuation in part of application Serial No. 360,354, filed by me May 4-, 1929, which 5 latter application resulted in Letters Patent No. 1,859,037, granted May 17, 1932, relating to im.-'

provements in Methods of treating fine filamentous thread in package form.

My present invention, hereinafter described and.

claimed, particularly relates to apparatus for carrying out the processes described and claimed in my Letters Patent No. 1,859,037 and my application Serial No. 442,874 referred to above. Briefly, these processes relate to washing or other treatments of fine filamentous thread, while the thread is in a tender state andin package form. The treatmentsare effected with water or other fluids, and particularly with water or other fluids under pressure, and specifically provide for a limited expansion of the thread'during the initial stages ofthe washing or' other'treatment. The apparatus whereby this'limitedexpansion is attained and the washing or other operation is effected constitutes the subject matter of the prescomprises apparatus for mounting cakes of rayon thread so as to provide a limited'expansion space whereby a part only of the expansion is permitted which the cakes tend to make duringthe treatment of therayon thread following the formation of the cakes, for example, during the wash-* ing ofthe cakes with water. For purposes of illustration I'shall describe my invention in this specification, and illustrate it in the accompanying drawings referred -to therein,'-as embodied in an apparatus intended for a washing treatment of a thread package. In this illustrative form of my invention, the essential parts of the apparatus are perforated shell members, for sup porting the individual cakes and for guiding the flow of water thereto, and spacers for supporting the shell members and the -cakes and for providing the limited expansion'space referred to above. This, however, is but one of the forms of apparatus in which my, inventionmay. be em bodied. j I f In the annexed drawings:

Figure l is a broken front elevation of an im- Figure 2 is a endelevation of the apparatus Shown in Figure. 1, a portion of the view being cut application. More particularly, my invention.

in vertical section andtaken-in the planesindi cated by the line 2- 2, Figure 1; I

'Figure 3 is aview of aportion of the parts shown in Figure 2, this Figure 3 particularly showing certain clamping mechanism in its released position; whereas, this'c'lamping mechanism is shown in Figure 2 in 'locked position; 'Figure 4' is a'fragmentarylongitudinal vertical section, taken in the line 4-4, Figure 2; t

Figure 5 is-a transversevertical section, upon an enlarged scale, ,through a battery of cakes plane indicated by the assembledin washingposition, the showing fin.

dition of the cakes after thewash'water'has been turned on and the cakes are being-subjected to the pressure thereof; and I t Figure Bis a perspective of a certain cake core or shell upon which the-cake is mounted during the washing operation, the viewshowing the split'formation oflthe shell.

Referring to.=the annexed drawings inwhich U the same parts are indicated by the same several numbersin the different views, theframe I of a wash'rackis provided witha horizontaliplatfo'rm 2 upon which are mounted two longitudinal series of bases 3. or foundations for vertical batteries of regenerated cellulose'cakes which are to be. washed, oneof theseseries of bases 3, in the form of apparatus illustrated, being: arranged along each"longitudinalredge of the platforml.

Disposed above eachof the bases.3, and in spaced relation through the mediumof intermediatelydisposed inclined shell membersor' cores 6, are a plurality of spacers or. abutments 4, plainly shown in Figure 5,. and upon-the top of the topmost shell member 6 is'positio'ned a cap meniberglZ. Preferably, theshells 6 are. longitudinally split and have overlapping portionsas illustrated by -the number 6' in Figure 8, and hence are collapsible or expansible. The inclination of the outer peripheral surface of the coret corresponds usual. cake, as plainly shown in Figured The r with the bevel of the inner peripheralface of "the base 3, and abutments 4 are formed with upper annular flanges 3' and'4, respectively, andlower annular flanges. 3 and 4 respectively, and the cap, I2 is, formed with a lower flange l2; Onesof the cakes 5 surrounds each core 6 and is disposed between adjacent flanges 4' and 4 of adjacent spacer members 4, or between the latter and the adjacent base member 3 or cap member I2; The spacing of the members 3, 4 and I2 is such that adjacent flanges are disposed somewhat further apart than the depth of the cake 5 so as to provide a slight space 8, plainly shown in Figure 5, between the top of the cake 5 and the lower flange of the adjacently upper member. A fit of the 'core 6 within the cake 5'within a. quarter of an inch of the latter is ample for satisfactory operation. In assembling the cake 5 upon the cores 6, a cloth, such as a knit fabric, canffirst be drawn through the cake and the metal core or shell 6 then compressed and. drawn through the package.

cloth, thus mounting the cakes 5 without disturbing the fibers thereof.

The wash water is obtained from any-suitable source and fed under pressure through-the inlet 8 whence it is conducted through conduit sections l and II to the'two longitudinal series of cake batteries. For this purpose, the webs of the base members '3 are formed with holes I3 therethrough, with which communicate-the pipe sections l6 and ILwhlch results in the water being forced into the interior of the cores ,6, the walls of the latter being provided with a multiplicity of perforations lwhereby the water is forced outwardly and transversely through the several cakes and drips downwardly from the outer peripheral faces thereof, into thefltroughs I4- whence it is conducted off throughthe drains i5.

I shall now explain the operation of this apparatus by describing what happens during the washing operationand the effect upon the thread In order to do this, I shall assume a certain composition of the viscose solution, with-- out intending thereby to limit myself to suchcomposition. The compositionis assumed merely for the purpose of makingplain what are the bene-' fits of 'the washing operation carried out on my improved apparatus", The viscose solution, for instance, compriseseight (8) per cent cellulose,

r an aggregate of approximately two .or three (2 or 3) per cent'of various sulphur compounds, and

. caustic soda of substantially six or seven (6 or 7 per cent,'the balance' oftheviscose being water. When this viscose is being setup into. the regenerated cellulose thread in the precipitating bath, the acid of the bathiattacks the caustic soda-cellulose combination, which results in precipitatin'g the cellulose in gel formation, during which operationthe cellulose loses about threefourths of itsv water.*"1'his regenerated cellulose-water combination is collected bycentrifugal spinning in a pot intothe initial cake package, being wound and twisted by the same operation. Immediately the cake commences to shrink due to its, steadysloss. of moisture ,content. The

' natural tendency of the regenerated cellulose threads is to become'thinner after being collected,

even duringthe washing operation, due toithe positive removal of .water during the washing operation result in a porousness which assists in uniform washing. However, theeffect of the washing operation upon the wholecake is to in duce some longitudinal or .axial' elongation but,

no lateralenlargement. This longitudinal clan-1 gation is permitted to an extent determined by the depth of the space 8. This longitudinal elongation will be completed in a period of time governed by the pressure of the wash water and flowspeed thereof, and the compactness of the cake rises tothe level of the space 8.

The space 8 which I provide between the top of the cake 5 andthe adjacently upper spacing member 4 is sufficient to provide relief for passage of the wash water,'during the initial stages of washing, if the resistance to the transverse passage of the wash water between the adjacent filaments of the thread is such as to cause the wash 5 water to rise within the core 6 to the level of the space 8 before the cake 5 has expanded longitudinally an amountsuflicient to fill the space 8.

In this event the wash water flows downwardly over the exterior surface of the cake and in thus wetting'the same induces quick longitudinal expansion which promotes the increasing porosity of the cake and permits efficient transverse wash- 7 in passage of-the water through the cake v The longitudinal swelling ofthe cakes 5, dur;

ing the initial washing, causes thecakes tofill theupper spaces Bso that the cakes 5 are then confined between the upper and lower faces respectively of theadjacent spacing members; At

the time these spaces 8 are thus filled by the cakes 5, the latterhave becomeso porous ,as-jtq permit free and uniform washing. ,Thus,.,.-by the treatment,.the cake is permitted first toelongate longitudinally sufficiently. tov fill the slight space 8 and thenis restrained from further elon:

gation, the wash water'having during theelon: gating period a medium through which to filter consisting inwpart of the space 8and in part of the cake body, this filtering medium changing to the cake body only after the elongation of the "cake has filled the space 8. Thus, the. space ,8

somewhat alleviates, during the elongating period, the pressurewhich, if there was notprovided such a space 8, would tendto be built up by the resistance which the cakebody offers duringrsuch period to thepassagejof the wash water there through. The close confinement ofctheiend faces.

of the cakes 5 by the engaging portions of the spacers 14 or the base members 3 or the caps I2 prevents the wash water from passing along the said end facesof. the cakes 5 and hence obviates any distortionof thecakes and addsto the uniformity of the treatment; There also is effected a smoothing out of any dlstorti on of the-cakes 5,

as may have occurredduring the previous han-;

dling ofthe cakes; H

The proper depth of the. space 8 is governed by the number of twisted filaments that make up the regenerated thread. Apparently, this num ber of filaments. governs the depth of the space.

8. in approximately a direct ratio}, For instance, a cak'eof' Bil-filament threads. requires substantially one-half'l /z) the "depth of space il'jasaf cake of the same denier threads butin which the latter are comprised of' 'filaments.

Withoutlimiting myself'to a'space 8, of such a depth, I have found that such a space of one-- eighth 0A,) inch depth gives very satisfactory results when washing a threadcake ofthree 'andone-half (3 inches in depth and containing approximately eight (8) ounces of dry rayon and consisting of 44-filament 300 denier thread.

aongrss operations can be effected by my improved process is of great material importance. For instance, I find that with cold water as satisfactorya washing can be effected in one and one-half-('1 hours as is effected by other present methods, with which Iam acquainted, in twelve(12) or more hours. Also, I have ascertained that wash water of substantially 180 F. will accomplish'assatisfactory a washing in fifteen minutes as is effected by cold water in one and one-half (1 /2) :hours. (hate the temperature of cold water ahdl80 F. affects the time necessary for sa'tisfactory'wash- Wash water of temperatures intermeing to somewhat proportionate degrees. In some of the operations, the washing with hot water of substantially 180 F. promotes a doubleaction, such as simultaneously washing and desulphurizing. Temperature control is an important:consideration in such compound actions.

Another very great advantage resides in the .fact'that my improved method is a radial treat ment of the initial package. 'I'his is particularly true, if the thread has been collected in twisted formation.v This advantage is that' my method does not disturb the twist of the thread. When a skein ora'hank is washed, or someother noninitial package which cannot be treated by wash water applied radially, the Water running. downwardly over the skein washes the twist down and,

results in a non-uniform twist and the formation of open areas and snarled portions in the skein'J;

By my method, the wash water is uniformlyapplied-in aradial direction between the adjacent filaments of the twisted thread and there is no non-uniform-pressure applied betweenany two filaments or applied to any local area betweentwo adjacentfilaments which would result in a disturbing of a twist or the creation of a nonuniform twist. i

I will'now describe by reference to the accompanying drawings certain mechanism for efiecting the clamping of the several vertical batteries of members heretofore described. A clamping head 29 adapted closely to fit over the top of the cap member !2 is formed with an upper boss 2 I'having a vertical recess 22 within which is contained the bot-tom end of a link 23. This link 23 is secured in said recess 22 through the medium of a pin 24 mounted in the link 23 and passing through a vertically elongated slot 25 formed in the boss 2 l. Normally the pin 24 is held in its lowermost position in the slot 25 through the medium of a coil spring 26 confined between the top of the clamping member 28 and a pin ZIsecured in the link 23, as plainly shown in Figures 4 and 5. Thev spring 26, pin 24 and elongated slot 25 furnish shock-absorbing means during the clamping of the head 2!.) down upon the cap member 2|. The clamping member 20 is locked down upon and released from the cap member l2 by manually- I the ends of, operating handles 33 by means of pins 39, said handles 33 being also adapted to make two connections to vertically-disposed in the handle Sil'can be lockedin either of the recesses 35 and 36, as plainly shown in Figures 2 and-3, the recess 35 being used for the rele'asedor unclamped position of the clamping member 20, and the recess 35 for the clamped position. Upper and lower end members-40 of the strap member '383 are secured to two diagonally extended legs 3! and 32 of the bracket 29, as plainly shown in Figures 2 and 4, and the top of the locking lever 34 is pivotally secured to the extended end of the upper member 3!. The pin 39 plays in an elongated recess 43' formed in the handle member 33 and to this hande member is secured a strapmember 38 within which the locking lever 34 has a limited amount of movement. During the up in the body of the bracket 29.

It isevident from the aforegoing description that the battery ofcakes'and spacing members and base members and cap members can be' assembled, when the clamping members are inthe position shown in Figure 3 and that after being so assembled, the locking lever 34 can be pulled rearwardly within the strap 3 8'to release the pin 3! from the notch 35 and thenthe handle 33 pulled down until the pin 31 intersects thenotch 36, the

locking lever 34 automatically taking suchflockins. position or being forced concurrently and manually into such locking position. i My apparatus is intended for use intreating rayon threads in their initial package form. No special reeling or winding of the fibers is necessary other than that which is incident to the collecting of thethread in the desired form of initial package. v These initial packages may then be subjected to the desired processing and finishing operations, without first skeining or otherwise reorganizing the fibers into, packages of a different nature, my apparatus should not be confused with apparatus designed fortreatments of rayon material which is not in the initial package but has been specially reeled or rewound for suchspecial treatments, such as apparatus designed for special well-known processes of dyeing for which a special winding of the material is necessary before it is subjected to the dyeing process.

What I claim is: I a

1. Apparatus for fluid-treating fine filamentous thread gathered into an initial package which tends to elongate longitudinally during the treatment of the thread, comprising means for supporting the package which permit longitudinal elongation thereof in a predetermined amount but to an extent less than ittends to make under the treatment, and means for distributing the treating fluid to the package. 1

2. Apparatus for fluid-treating fine filamentous thread gathered into an initial tubular package which tends to elongate longitudinally during the treatment of the thread, comprising means for supporting the package, which means include a perforated tubular shell for distribut ing the treating fiui-d to the package, said sup-- porting means permitting longitudinal elonga handles 33 'for'the corresponding. batteries are 2 pivotally mounted upon the same pin 42 secured tion of the package in a predetermined amount but to an extent less than the package tends to make under the treatment l 3. Apparatus for fluid-treating fine filamentous thread gathered into an, initial tubular i package which tends toelongate' longitudinally during the treatment of the thread, comprising means-for. supporting the package, which means include a resiliently expansible tubular shell for distributing thetreating fluid to the package, said supporting means permitting longitudinal elongation of the package in apredetermined amount but to an extent less than the package tends to make underthe treatment. I ,4. The apparatus set forth in claim 3 characterized in that said tubular shell isperforated.

5. Apparatus for fluid-treating fine filamen- A tous thread wound into an initial tubular package which'tends tof elongate longitudinally during'the treatment of the thread; comprising an element for radiallysupportirig the package and .two spacers for the ends of the package, the ends of saidelement abutting said spacers and spacinglthe latter a distance apart somewhat more than the length of the package before the treatment but less than the length which the package would attain during the treatment if it should be: permitted to expand unrestrainedly, and

means for distributing the treating fluid to the package. 9

6. The apparatus set forth in claim 5, charac terized in that said element is tubular and perforated whereby itis adapted to serve as a conduit for the treating fluid and to" direct the treating fluid transversely of the package.

- 7. The apparatus set'forth in claim 5, characterized in that said .elementis a resiliently and radially expansibletube and is perforated to direct the treating fiuid radially of the package.

' 8. Apparatus for fluid-treating fine filamentous thread wound into initial tubular packages which tend to elongate longitudinally during the treatment of the thread, comprising perforated tubular elements for radially supporting the packages and annular spacers for the adjacent ends of contiguous packages, the ends of said tubular elements abutting said spacers and spacing adjacent spacersa distance apart somewhat more than the length of the package before the treatment'but less thanthe length which the package would attain during treatment if it should be permitted to expand unrestrainedly, said tubular elements and annular spacers being aligned to serve as a conduit for the treating fluid.

9. The apparatus set forth in claim 8', in cornbination with clamping means ,for said tubular elements and annular spacers.

10. The apparatus, set forth i claim a, char acterizedin that said tubular elements have Iongitudinally splitoverlapping walls, whereby. said:

elements are expansible.

'11. Apparatu's for fluid-treating fine filamentous rayon thread collected into a. cake, com-.

rising a perforated tubular cake core, a rigid abutment for one end of said core and for one end of the cake,a secondrigid abutment for the other end of the core,.' said abutments being spaced apart a distance predeterminedly greater than the length of the cake before treatment but less than the length which thecake would attain during treatment if it should be permitted means for supplying treating fluid to thecore.

12. Apparatus for fluid-treating finefilamentous rayon threads collected into cakes, compris-v ingmeans for mounting a battery of cakes in vertically spaced; relation. and including tubular means radially contacting the inner faces of the cakes andspacers mounted betweenthe' contiguous ends of adjacent cakes, adjacent spacers being spaceda distance apart somewhat more than the length of'the-cake before the treatment vto elongate longitudinally unrestrainedly, and

tance apart somewhat more than the length of the cake before the treatment "but less than the length which the cake ,would attain during the treatment if it should be permited to elongate longitudinally unrestrainedly, and means for rigidly clamping said axial direction.

14. The apparatussset forth in claim 13, in

combination with means for .passinga treating fluid into the coreinteriors and transversely through the cakes. 7

CHARLES A. HUT'IINGER.

mounting means in an 

